Lutheran Church of Suttons Bay hosted the Great Lakes Pastors Conference recently, with 28 pastors from around the Midwest participating.

PASTORS WHO took part in a conference hosted by
First Lutheran Church April 14-16 pose at the Suttons
Bay church.

According to the Rev. Ron Pederson, pastor at First Lutheran, the pastors represent about 20 percent of the churches in the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, which is a traditional, conservative Lutheran denomination. The conference took place April 14-16.

Pederson said the conference focused on four essays that explore issues facing the modern Lutheran church, including catechism instruction and retaining young members; the personal and family devotional life of church members; the teaching of scripture; and church structure.

The pastors and their wives took part in a welcome reception at Bahle Park in Suttons Bay, potluck lunches provided by the ladies of First Lutheran, and a banquet dinner at the Village Inn in Suttons Bay. The pastors’ wives visited the Grand Traverse Lighthouse, the Dune Climb in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and the the home of Bob and Kumi Martinson in Suttons Bay.

“Our guests were very impressed with Leelanau County and several of them suggested that we have the conference here again sometime in the near future,” Pederson said.